Pontine cistern

The pontine cistern (also known as the prepontine cistern), cisterna pontis is one of the subarachnoid cisterns. It occupies a large space on the ventral aspect of the pons and contains the basilar artery.

It is filled with CSF and is contiguous with the subarachnoid cavity of the spinal cord. It is also continuous with the cisterna magna behind, and the interpeduncular cistern anteriorly.

Surrounds the ventral aspect of the pons.

It contains:

The basilar artery and the origin of the anteroinferior cerebellar artery (AICA).

The origin of the superior cerebellar arteries.

The sixth (VI) cranial nerve.